Ethan exited the Golden Stag and stepped out on the busy evening streets of Veer. Before he could breathe in the chilly evening air, something furry brushed against his nose, and he was almost run over by a man riding what looked like a zebra, albeit furrier.
“Watch out where you are going!” the man yelled as Ethan scurried back and pressed himself against the inn’s wall. It turned out that Ethan was not the only one the man tried to run over, as he heard the yelps and the screams of the people in his path a few meters ahead.
Just as he was about to take another step, he was forced to repeat the gesture as two other men, dressed in uniforms similar to the guards at the gates, galloped on the backs of another pair of furry zebras, yelling at the first man to stop.
What is this? High-speed zebra chase? Ethan thought as he identified the creatures the guards were riding.
[Fuzzyhoof] (unranked)
An animal of burden with soft fur, sturdy hooves, and friendly nature. An ideal companion for travelers and adventurers alike.
“Huh?” Ethan said as he watched the supposed guards ride on the backs of weird animals, the crowd splitting with yelps of surprise, trying to get out of the way. “All right, that is still better than some lizards pulling carts,” Ethan thought, shaking his head at the weirdness of the situation.
Veer had proven to be more than he could have expected before coming to the city. Sure, hiding away at a grim-dark castle, watching every shadow for monsters, and fearing leaving such a place left a mark on him. That was why seeing people in plate mail riding zebras with swords in their hands prompted a chuckle from Ethan.
He stopped and looked around, checking if any more chases of some common criminal would interrupt his good mood. Seeing nothing, Ethan took off from the Golden Stag and crossed the cobbled street before him, choosing a random direction to explore.
As he walked, he looked around at the various buildings dotting the sides of the large market square the inn was next to, taking in the atmosphere. It was as if he was in a completely new part of the world, the village of Willow not comparing the slightest. Even the lack of bright sun, as the evening light shone from above and lamps lit up his way, could not hide the grandeur of the market before him.
Ethan was surprised that even in the reasonably late hour, many stands and booths were open as people haggled for wares and ran around with parcels in their hands. Must be busy with their chores during the day, Ethan thought, counting already more than fifty people he had passed busily shopping for the next day. The best he could guess, medieval retail did not differ much from its modern counterpart in convenience and self-checkout.
From what Ethan could remember, he expected that in a medieval setting, everything would be closed when the night set, apart from the least reputable establishments. However, Veer proved him wrong in a good way, as happy shoppers and merchants exchanged tokens and gratitudes for business well done.
Just as Ethan walked through the rows of stalls filled with people focused on various goods displayed, he failed to notice several scarred men trailing slowly behind him. He did, however, feel a slight prickling sensation on the back of his neck but swiftly wrote it off on the small bugs that were flying all around the market square.
As he walked, Ethan's gaze was drawn to the various pubs and cafes that lined the square. Each was unique, with brightly painted signs and inviting aromas wafting into the street. He couldn't help but be surprised that such modern establishments existed in this seemingly ancient place.
The first pub he passed had a warm, cozy feel, with flickering candles and plush armchairs inside. The patrons were jovial, their laughter spilling out onto the street. Ethan caught a glimpse of a group of young men clinking glasses together in a toast, their faces flushed with merriment.
Further down the street, he passed a small café with a charming outdoor seating area. The scent of what compared to freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries wafted toward him, making his mouth water. He couldn't help but wonder how they managed to brew such a drink in this seemingly medieval world.
As he continued his walk, Ethan's attention was caught by more street food vendors that dotted the square. Each one had an array of exotic meals and foods on display, many of which he had never seen or heard of before. One vendor was selling skewered meat, the char-grilled beef's tantalizing aroma mingling with paprika's spicy scent.
Another vendor had a pot bubbling over an open flame, the rich scent of tomato and herbs filling the air. Ethan couldn't resist the temptation and bought a bowl of the hearty stew, which he found surprisingly delicious.
Ethan couldn't help but marvel at the sights and sounds around him as he chomped down on the meats he had bought. The market square was a vibrant, colorful hub of activity, and he felt like he had stumbled upon a hidden gem. Despite the medieval feel of the place, it was alive with the energy and vitality of modern-day life.
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At that moment, Ethan realized there was so much more to this world than he had ever imagined. He was excited to explore further and discover what other surprises this fantastical realm had in store for him.
Turning a corner, Ethan was stopped dead by a towering merchant who said, “Sir! I see you are new to town! You must try the best drink in all of Veer! Sold only at Lenny’s - the Lover’s ire. Here have some, but be careful!” The man finished his pitch and shoved a glass in Ethan’s hand, mentioning him to try some.
Ethan’s expression was surprised, with his eyebrows raised, never expecting the merchants to be so direct. Nevertheless, he raised the glass to his nose and smelled it, surprised yet again as the drink seemed similar to Coke, having the same bubbles and everything. Oh, now this is interesting, Ethan thought, sipping on the glass.
“Man, this is good!” he exclaimed at the merchant, downing the glass, as it tasted precisely like Coke from his favorite pizza place. “Lover’s ire, you said? Can I have some more? How much is, I do not know, a barrel?”
Merchant’s face was filled with shock and worry as he answered, “Now, sir, you must not down the whole drink like that! One glass is enough to make you confess to the first lady you will meet! Are you all right?”
Ethan looked at the man, then at the empty glass in his hand, and shook his head, “No idea what you are talking about. I feel fine. Great even. This does not even have a tinge of liquor, so do not worry on my account. Now about that barrel? How much is it?”
The towering merchant shook his head in disbelief but did not try to contradict a paying customer, saying, “That will be two steel tokens for a barrel. Will you be all right to carry it on your own?”
Ethan pulled out the required coins and gave them to the merchant, lifting the barrel and storing it in his storage space, “Yes, no worries. Good doing business with you!” Ethan waved and walked away further into the market, not paying any more attention to the merchant who was shaking his head.
I cannot believe that this place has god damn Coke! And here I was, living on water like some fitness addict for months! Ethan thought with a huge grin plastered on his face as he walked, passively noting that some people here and there had dimensional satchels besides himself.
I wonder if those things make these people more likely targets for some thugs, Ethan thought, noting that the people, likely nobles, had a couple of armed men with them, eying the surroundings as their employers transacted with the merchants.
As Ethan turned around a corner, a rough voice called out behind him, “Hey, lad! Got some tokens to spare?” Ethan turned slightly to look at the attacker and did not notice how his way ahead in the narrow alley filled with various crates and boxes was cut off by a few more unsavory figures.
“What?” he asked the man, noting three figures behind him with what looked like small knives in their hands. They looked middle-aged, wearing brown rags for clothes, various scars doting their little visible skin, as grins were plastered on their faces. What is up with these fools? Ethan thought, seeing how they had boxed him in.
“I said,” the man repeated, “some tokens for me and my boys here? To pay for passage, of course.”
“Yea, for the passage,” a slightly higher pitched voice, coming from what looked like a lackey to the first man’s left, said, twirling a dagger in his hand. “And do not start with the no money on your person bullshit. We saw you putting away that barrel of the simp’s drink you bought. Pull it out!”
Ethan blinked in disbelief and then thought, It cannot be. My first robbery? And a Romanian-styled one with the classic money request hook? Man! A huge smile broke out on Ethan’s face as he flexed his fists and cracked his neck. The assailants, in turn, paused and waited on Ethan, baffled at what their target was doing.
“Now, as much as I would love to sate your thirst for some quality soft drink, let me tell you one thing,” Ethan said with a smile. “I have had a rough day today. No, a rough few months now. Let me give you a chance not to make it even worse. Walk away, and we will call it even. No harm done.”
The high-pitched man with a rat’s face scoffed at Ethan and said, “Pff, what? There are five of us and one of you. Your idle threats will do you no good, you noble cunt.” Then, as he finished his rant, he did something Ethan did not expect. The rat-faced man pushed his buddy next to him at Ethan as some common meat shield and yelled, “Get him, boys!”
Ethan’s shock lasted all but a moment as he conjured his mana sword and cut at the surprised man in front of him with expert ease. Instead of aiming for his vitals or limbs, Ethan simply leveraged his increased speed and agility, severing the fragile string that held the man’s pants to his waist.
With no time to react, the meat shield stumbled and fell as Ethan sidestepped him, punching the rat one straight in the face. Ethan’s fist did more damage than he expected, drawing a wince from him as the rat-faced lackey crumpled to the floor in the next moment. However, that did not stop the other assailant beside him from jumping at Ethan.
Oh, common, Ethan thought, seeing how slow their movements were. Then, without waiting for the man to get to him, he kicked him in the chest with a back kick. I cannot believe how big of a gap there is between an aspect user and some common thugs, he thought and turned around to glare at the last two attackers.
The men stopped dead in their tracks, their unshaven faces filled with shock, saying nothing. Finally, Ethan broke the silence, saying, “Now. The offer still stands. Take your friends and get out of my sight. I am generous like that today, not a 'noble cunt', you dared to call me. Not a fan of those either.”
The men nodded slowly, walking around Ethan, their backs pressed against the wall, as they collected their two knocked-out comrades. Then, without saying a word, the last two men standing took one last look at Ethan and vanished around the corner, knocked out friends packed on their backs.